Convertible furniture



A. N. CLOUGH.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.22| 1918. RENEWED IULY 7. I919.

1,320,865. y y Patented om.. 28,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- A TTORNE YS.

. A. N. CLOUGH. CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE. APPLICATION HLED JAN.2`2`.1918. nENEwED JULY 7, I9|9.

1,320,365. Patented 001;.28,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHET 2. F' f' M" Q55 IEM- CM'.- l

95 3g f ijf 3a* WITNESS: IN VEN TOR.

W M A ATTORNEYS.

ends of supporting legs 12. Extension bars nnrrnn srafrns rnrnnr ernten.

ALFRED N. CLOUGH, 0F SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 THREE' LEAF COT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION 0F NEVADA.

CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE.

i `Specification of Letters Patent. i' gttgntedct. 28, 1919.

Application inea January 22, 191s, seri-a1 No. 213,130. 'Renewed July 7, 191e.Y serial No. 309,179.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALFRED N. ACLOUGH, av citizen of the United States, residing at San .I ose, inthe county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Convertible Furniture, Vof which the following is a speclcation.

This invention relates to convertible structures and particularly pertains to foldable and convertible furniture. f 4

The prime object of this invention is to provide a` structure which may be easily folded into a collapsed position or unfolded therefrom, and when in its set-up condition maybe adapted to form various substantial articles of furniture, such as a settee, cot, or table. Y 1

In carrying out, the present invention I contemplate theuse of parallel foldable side` bars hinged Vat points alongl their length and foldably united by cross bars engaging vertically adjustable legs. secured to said bars, and which are further braced bythe side bars. Such a structure is so designed as to receive a canvas covering and to be readily converted to form different articles of furniture in which each element of the structure will contribute a delinite function in formi ,ing a rigid article of the character desired.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the cot 4 structure in extended position, Vwithextennr Y sion legs thereon shown 1n dotted'hnes as extended to form a table.`

Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation of the same device converted into a bench or settee.

Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, the main frame is shown as comprising a `pair of parallel side bars 10, provided at their'opposite ends with T-shaped spacing plates 11 which are pivotally fixed thereto. The downwardly extending portions `of these plates arerigidly'secured to the upper 13 are pivotally connected to the outstand` ing endsof the plates 11 and fin the same vertical plane withthe side bars 1Q.

Detachable transverse bars 14 are formed with a series of apertures along one of their faces, `within which pins 33 mayfproject. These pinsare fixed to and extend from the outer ends of the bars 1 3. l can-` vas or other iiexible covering 15 is tacked along opposite sides to the intermediate bars 10 and also tothe extension bars 13. rIhis canvas is -formed along its marginal side edges to accommodate the plates 11 and along its ends with loops 17 to receive the Intermediate the ends of each of the spac-V ing bars 18 is attached a pivoted link 20, these links in 'turn being connected at their inner ends by means of a U-shaped fitting forming a knee joint, the pivot pin of which is in vertical` alinement with the pivot of the joint 19.l These tie links are of such length that they may assist in preventing the sections ofthe cross bar 18 from assuming a straight line when extended, as shown in Fig. 2. In some cases, however, the tie links may be eliminated and the knee-joint 19 relied upon to hold the spacing bars in an angular relation to each other.

A diagonal brace bar 22 is pivotally con- 22 are formed in two.' sections connected by a knee-joint to permit upward folding movement. Between'each legand adjacent to theintermediate side bars is pivoted a diagonal brace member 23, knee-jointed to fold upwardly and outwardly. Upon the oppo site side of each leg' is pivoted a similarly jointed brace member 24 which extends up-` wardly` and outwardly to pivotally engage the extension bars 13 and provide them' with support.

In the case of one pair *ofY extension bars 13, the braces 24- are disconnectible from the legs 12. the latter Ibeing provided with pins 25 at ldifferent.points vertically therealongare separated.

j other.

to receive the disconnectible ends of the braces, it being understood that they are formed with knee-joints which prevent them from folding outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1. By this disconnectible feature of these braces the angular position of the extension frame at one end of the structure may be varied, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, to form a head or back-rest for reclining purposes.

.ln setting up the structure the intermediate side bars and the legs secured thereto Due to the construction of the spacing bars 1S and the brace members 22, the intermediate bars may be drawn apart in constant parallel relation with each lhen the spacing bars 18 have moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, the legs will be in proper spaced relation to each other to stretch the canvas 15 between the intermediate bars. It will be understood that before or after this operation the end bars 13 may be swung downwardly and `into longitudinal alinement with the intermediate bars 10, so that a single plane will be formed by the canvas covering. The opposite ends will, of course, be braced by the diagonal bracing members 21 which will also assist the brace members 23 in holding the legs of the structure at right angles to the frame members. When in this position a cot will be formed and an adjustable headrest will be provided by disposing the pivoted keepers of the braces 24 in a ,desired relation to the openings in the brace bars which engage the pins 25.

'In order that a table may be formed, the structure as assembled is adjusted to stretch and sustain the canvas covering in a single plane, after which extension leg members 2S may be drawn out from between the members 12a and 12b constituting the main legs. The members 28 normally telescope within ythe main structure of the legs and are guided by plates 27 securing the elements 12a and 12b in rigid relation to each other.

`Aspring-pressed pawl 29 is fitted within the upper end of each leg extension 28 and is provided with a U-shaped recess 31, within which a projection 32, at the lower end of the leg members, will register. 'A spring 30 holds this pawl against the surface of the leg members 12 and insures that it will positively engage this recess to temporarily prevent upward or downward movement of the extensions in relation to the legs. The extended position of the legs to form a table is particularly indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

A bench or settee may be formed, as

4 shown in Fig. 3, by breaking the joint between the spacing braces 1S and adapting them to assume the position shown in F ig.

3, at which time the members 18 are sub-V stantially at Yright angles to' each other. 1n this condition one of the tie bars 20 of each pair is removed from its pivoted connection upon a complementaryinember 1S and is attached to a pivot pin mounted upon the lower end of the extension legs 28. rlhe brace members 22, connected with the opposite legs 12, may then be folded and the structure collapsed laterally, at whic-htime the extension legs upon one side are extended to dispose the end bars 13 at an angle and to cause one of the side frame members to be held at the height assumed when malr-` ing the cot and the opposite side frame member to be elevated to the height assumed in forming the table.

Due to the contracted relation of the two side frames, the pins upon the ends of the frame members are caused to register with other perforations 83 in the lend members 13, as shown in Fig. 3. This will cause the canvas to sag and form a comfortable seat. The manner in which the structure may be collapsed is evident. t will thus be seen that I have here provided a simple structure which may be readily folded or converted to form different articles of furniture and will be rigidly maintained in the desired relation to insure a stable structure adapted to meet practical purposes.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent isl. A convertible structure of the type disclosed, comprising a rectangular frame made up of longitudinal side bars and transverse end bars carrying a flexible covering. a pair of transversely spaced supporting legs near each end of the rectangular frame, spacing bars between the legs of each pair near the bottom thereof, whereby the canvas will be held in a horizontal plane, said bars being ioo jointed to permit the transversely' spaced legs to be brought together for collapsing the structure, extension pieces on the legs at one side for raising the same to form the back of a settee, the jointed cross-bars then being flexed upwardly into substantially right angular relation to bring the transversely spaced legs closer together, means for shortening the connections between the endpieces and side bars of the rectangular each end, spacing bars between the legs ofV each pair near `the bottom thereof, whereby the rectangular frame will support the canhorizontally, said bars being jointed `to permit the transversely spaced legs to be brought together for collapsing the struc#V gether, andmeans for shortening the con# nections between the end pieces and side bars of the rectangular frame, whereby the flexible covering is allowed to sag and form both the bottom and back rest of the settee, tie bars` assisting to support said brace bars, one end of each of said tie bars adapted to be disconnected from its spacing bar and connected to the lower end of the adjacent extension piece on the supporting legs to hold the opposite legs spaced apart at their lower ends.

3. In convertible furniture, a pair of spaced side bars, a covering carried by the bars, front and rear vertical end supports for the bars, means to allow the end supports to be adjusted so as to vary the space between the side bars, and to also permit the rear supports to be raised up from the ground so as to dispose the rear sidebar above the front side bar and the covering in a position to form theback and seat of a settee, and extensible telescopic ground engaging means connected to the front and rear supports tohold the latter in raised position above the ground to form a table7 the front extensible means being adapted to `be telescoped when the rearextensible means are extended to therebyhold the rear side bar spaced above the front-side bar to form a settee.

4. In convertible furniture, a substantially rectangular frame, a covering for the frame, legs for the frame, a breakable con.- nection between the legs whereby to allow the legs to bebrought relatively close together, ground engaging extensions for the legs on one side of the frame Jtri-support the side bar of said side above the other side A'and allow the covering to sag to form the back and seat of a settee, and ineans between the leg extensions and the breakable connections for holding the latter against movement with the legs in their said Vrelatively close relation. Y Y

5. In convertible furniture, a pair of spaced side bars, a covering carried by the bars, front and rear vertical legs for the bars,

breakable connections between the front andv rear legs which connections are horizontally disposed when the covering is horizontal, means to support the rear legs at a distance above the surface onv which the furniture is mounted and accordingly above the front legs so as to dispose. the covering at an incline, said breakable connections in said inclined disposition ofV the covering having their respective partsarranged horizontally and vertically, and means to brace the vertical parts of the breakable connections from thesaid means for supporting the rear legs.

6, In convertible furniture, a pair of spaced side bars, a covering carried by the bars, front andrear vertical legs for the bars, breakable connections between the front and rear legs which connections are'horizontally disposed when'the covering is horizontal, means to support the rear legs at a distance above the surface on which the furniture is mounted `and accordingly above the front legs so as to disposeV the covering at an incline, said breakable connections in said inclined disposition of the covering having their respectivel parts arranged horizontally and vertically, bracing means between the horizontal parts of the breakable connections andk v furniture is mounted and accordingly above the front legs so as to dispose the covering at an incline, said breakable connections in said inclined disposition of the coverin having their respective parts arranged horizontally and vertically and with the horizontal parts below the covering and the vertical parts adjacent to the front legs, and means to hold the breakable connections rigid in their said last-nanied positions.

8. In convertible furniture, side bars, a

`coveringcarried by the bars, front and rear legs, breakable connections between vthe lower ends of the front and rear legs, Vand means to support the rear legs from the ground and at a distance above the front legs so as to dispose the covering at an incline, said breakable connections in the last-nained position of the rear legs having horizontal parts and vertical parts extending downwardly from the'horizontal parts.

9. In convertible furniture, side bars, eX- tension bars pivotally connected thereto, removable end pieces connecting each pair of extension bars, front and rear legs, break able connections between said front and rear legs `and between each of said legs and the adjacent extension bar, and a covering tix edly secured to said side bars and removably mounted to said removable end pieces.

l0. In convertible furniture, side bars, extension ba-rs pivotally connected thereto, removable end pieces connecting each pair of extensions, adjusting means for one pair or' said extensions, a covering attached to said side bars and said extensions and removably mounted upon said removable end pieces, front and rear legs, breakable connections between said front and rear legs, means to support the rear legs from the ground and at a distance above the front legs soas to dispose the covering at an incline, means for holding said front legs and said raised rear Mariani) N. oLoUGi-r.

Witnesses: v

C. S. CARNES, I. MANTELLA.

' Copies of this Ypatent may be obtanedrfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Tatents,

Washington, D. Ci 

